If you missed out on this year’s 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, don’t worry, here are the five most memorable moments.
After missing the Grammys for the past two years, I finally had the chance to watch it live. If you were unable to watch the awards on Sunday, you missed out on the best one yet.
This Grammys had tributes, sensational performances, wild fashion moments and more. Without further ado, here are the five most memorable moments of this year’s Grammys.
1. Kobe Bryant tribute
On Sunday, Los Angeles and the rest of the world were struck with a huge shock in Kobe Bryant’s passing. Earlier that day, Kobe, Gigi Bryant and seven other victims died in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas. With the Grammys being held at the Staple Center in Los Angeles on the same day, it was only right for the organizers to pay tribute to the man who had blessed the stadium with his presence for so many years. As Alicia Keys put it, it was “the house that Kobe built.”
Lizzo started the show by announcing “Tonight is for Kobe” before singing “Cuz I Love You.” Keys paid tribute to Bryant in her opening speech, letting the audience know that the victims are in their hearts, spirits and prayers. Keys brought out Boyz II Men to perform “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.” Their performance created a feeling of warmth as the camera panned out to Bryant’s jersey. Bryant’s jersey was present in many performances, including those of Lil Nas X, Run DMC and Aerosmith. This tribute to Kobe Bryant will never be forgotten and his name will live on.
Kobe Bryant was able to touch many people’s lives when they needed help. He would go the extra mile for those that he loved dearly. The news of Kobe’s passing will continue to affect millions for days and years to come. Bryant and the other victims are in our thoughts, prayers and spirit as we continue on in life.
2. Demi Lovato performed for the first time in two years
After her overdose in 2018, Demi Lovato performed for the first time in two years. She gave an emotional performance, debuting her new song called “Anyone,” while wearing an elegant white gown to symbolize rebirth. Lovato was filled with a tremendous amount of emotion and had to pause to collect herself after singing the first line of her song.
It didn’t take her long to regroup, and after she did, Lovato started her number from the beginning and delivered a raw, moving performance.
Halfway through the performance, Lovato let go and showed the audience how much courage she had to summon to be on that stage. The singer has come a long way since her hospitalization in 2018. Although it was a major setback, this was definitely the first step for Lovato to rebrand herself.
Lovato is set to perform the National Anthem at the Super Bowl on Sunday. She will be performing alongside Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. This is just the beginning for Lovato.
3. Billie Eilish won 5 out 6 awards
Despite the mixed feelings people have toward the singer, you have to give it to Billie Eilish. The singer walked away victorious in five out of the six awards she had been nominated for: best new artist, song, record, album of the year and pop vocal album.
It was funny to see Eilish mouthing “please don’t be me” before winning her fourth Grammy of the evening. Eilish’s words were partially half-hearted, but she has been known to shy away from being the topic of online backlash, as she has done by making oversized clothes her fashion staple.
Eilish and her brother, Finneas O-Connell, take pride in the fact that their award-winning songs were produced from the comfort of their bedroom in their childhood home. Maybe that’s why Eilish’s voice is so good at making people feel like they are not alone even when they listen to it on their own.
4. Tyler the Creator slams the Grammys
Tyler the Creator was not messing around at the Grammys. He gave a touching acceptance speech alongside his mother after winning Best Rap Album for his record, “IGOR.”
But after going backstage, he had more to say. When asked about the voting process of the awards, he did not hold back his feelings. He said he believes that the award he received for his music in the ‘rap’ category was a “backhanded compliment.”
“It sucks that whenever we, and I mean guys that look like me, do anything that’s genre-bending that’s anything, they always put it in a ‘rap’ or ‘urban’ category,” he told reporters. “I don’t like that urban word. It’s just a politically correct way to say the N word to me. So when I hear that, I’m just like, why can’t we be in pop, you know what I mean?”
He hopes the Grammys will recognize artists like himself in more of the mainstream categories, rather than being sidelined.
5. Taylor Swift did not attend the Grammys
If you didn’t notice during the Grammys, Taylor Swift did not attend. Why? She was nominated for three awards: best pop vocal album, pop solo performance and song of the year. It was even rumored that Taylor Swift would perform at the Grammys.
Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande publicly announced they would perform at the Grammys. Variety reported that, “rehearsal schedules for the taping at Staples Center included one ‘TBA’ artist believed to be reserved for Swift.” Swift was most likely to perform her recent album Lover, but she did not. A lot of fans were upset that they didn’t see Swift perform or even attend the show.
Fans believe that Swift was put down in nominations for her new album Lover. After being humiliated for her album Reputation, sources say that it could be the reason she didn’t attend the show in 2016. After being snubbed for the past four years, it is understandable why she doesn’t attend the Grammys. Although she hasn’t attended the show in years, she was ecstatic to see that Lover was nominated for a Grammy, especially for song of the year.